SwitchON Foundation has set up an oxygen bank network across West Bengal for supplying oxygen cylinders and concentrators, especially in rural and suburban areas. Oxygen is one of the primary treatments for the majority of patients who are suffering severe COVID-19 symptoms. There has been a dearth of medical oxygen supply in many parts of the country with the extensive rise in demand in course of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. While urban regions have been more severely affected, the number of cases in rural areas are also increasing, in West Bengal, the data shows 32.7% cases were from rural areas in March 2021, which increased to 52.6% cases in May 2021.
In order to address this demand-supply constraint, SwitchON Foundation’s oxygen supply network has 15+ oxygen bank delivery points spread across 11 districts with over 340 cylinders of 10 L and 47 litres and 180 5-LPM and 10-LPM oxygen concentrators. The network has been established with support from Give India and WEF and other well wishers who donated generously to a crowdfunding campaign by SwitchON.
The oxygen bank will be supplying to District hospitals, Rural Health Centres and also directly to patient homes. For supplying this critical service, SwitchON Foundation is directly working with Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Health in many districts and has has collaborated with over 12 NGOs and local clubs across Bengal that are providing cylinders and concentrators Oxygen concentrators and cylinders will be supplied directly at the patient’s house or isolation area directly from the banks by the volunteers. Currently stocking points across Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, Bankura, Purulia, East and West Medinipur and Darjeeling.
SwitchON has been setting up Isolation and Covid Care Units, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal for rural areas. 3 centres have been set up in Chandipur, Contai and Kolaghat regions of East Midnapur district under the supervision of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of East Midnapur and Nandigram Health districts. The centres have a total capacity of 150 beds and are staffed with 80 doctors and healthcare workers. Another centre is being set up in Anchuri Rural hospital in Bankura I block with 50 beds under the supervision of CMO Bankura. Oxygen cylinders and concentrators are being provided to these centres from the oxygen bank network.
Patients or their caregivers who want to know how to avail the oxygen cylinder and concentrators can contact at 7595096428. NGOs and clubs who want to be a part of the network need to register in the online form that can be accessed at www.bit.ly/covid-wb-ngo-form and request for the necessary oxygen supplies.
Vinay Jaju, Managing Director of SwitchON Foundation, said, “Cities have stocked up with cylinders and concentrators for emergency use, but this essential resource is hardly present in rural areas or even district headquarters. Our experience of running a Telemedicine helpline with WBDF made us realise and we are very happy this network is rolling out”
Surajit Chakraborty of SwitchON Foundation said, “The oxygen cylinders and concentrators are provided free of cost for Covid patients all across the state. The patients can reach out to various local clubs and NGOs and procure the oxygen cylinders and concentrators.”
Dr. Debabrata Mukherjee, Chief Medical Officer, Basirhat Health District, North 24 Parganas said, “There are 5,554 active cases in the district on 6th June, which is the highest amongst the districts in the state. We thank SwitchON Foundation for their support in providing oxygen bank for the patients and making the cylinders and concentrators available at their doorstep.
Dr. Nitai Chandra Mandal, Chief Medical Officer Health, Howrah thanked SwitchON for their efforts and said, “On behalf of District Health Authority, I acknowledge your donation of Oxygen concentrators, Oxygen cylinders & other materials for the noble cause of human sufferings due to COVID pandemic. I sincerely convey my sincere gratitude to your organization for being with us in this huge crisis.”
Mr. Arun Khan of ASDUG, Amta, Howrah, have been working on arranging oxygen supply for the last 3 months. “We have been working in Amta rural area and supplying free oxygen to households, but there was a huge demand for oxygen and we were unable to meet that. Now we, have partnered with SwitchON Foundation who is supplying us 6 B type cylinders and 4 D type cylinders. This will help us a lot to meet the demand for oxygen.”
Through this Oxygen Bank Network, SwitchON Foundation is determined to ensure oxygen availability for all Covid patients, especially in rural areas.
0 
0 
